For many hours I have sat inside Green Poole Hide at Llandegfedd during every season but by far the most amazing experience I've had has been during winter when the wintering Teal and Wigeon arrive. The sound of Teal is just magical, it just doesn't sound like a Duck! It sounds even more incredible when you get 200+ birds gather in a small pool. I ran back to the car in the rain to get my recording gear as they all of a sudden started to perform mating rituals in the centre of the pool having spent most of the time around the edge resting. Suddenly the place came alive with sound. I've done the best I could to record this experience for you but it was taken inside a hide so you will hear a few creaks and cracks from the wood work. I hope you enjoy the recording. 

Llandegfedd is a designated SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) for its over-wintering Wildfowl and amongst the many species that visit Llandegfedd, Teal, Wigeon and Tufted Duck are usually in fairly large numbers (despite those numbers decreasing). This recording was taken out side one of the hides on the reserve called the 'Green Pool Hide'. Green pool is so named because it has been designed to detach from the main body of water when the water level drops. This allows water to fill naturally according to the weather and currently it is over 20ft higher than the main body of water. This opportunity has been brilliant however because it means we get gatherings like this with over 200 birds crammed into a small pool.

Is that an Osprey on the Osprey Platform?! no.. It's 'just' a Peregrine Falcon! No biggy!